Electric vaporizer



Aug. 15, 1933. M KATZMAN ELECTRIC VAPORIZER Filed Sept. 28, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l VAI-l,

/N VEN To n Aug. 15, 1933. M KATZMAN ELECTRIC VAPORIZER yFiled Sept. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 22v Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 28, 1931 Serial N0. 565,599

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric vaporizer of the class set forth in my Patent N o. 1,628,784 filed May 25th, 1926, and also in my pending application Serial No. 244,217 led January 3rd,

5 1928, and is adapted to be used more particularly for vaporizing medicated liquids for inhalation by patients in hospitals. private homes and other places for remedial or deodorant purposes, but obviously may be used for vaporizing other liquids such as Water for humidication or distillation purposes.

The main object of the present invention is to expedite the conversion of the liquid into vapor by establishing and maintaining a relatively "rapid local circulation of the liquid to and from the relatively shallow chamber between suitable electrodes when the latter are energized, and at the same time to enable the vapor to escape through a suitable outlet directly from said chamber so that the Vapor maybe available for use immediately following the energization of electrodes as distinguished from thel usual method of heating the entire body of liquid before the vaporization takes place,

In other words, I have -sought to divert the vapor directly from` the shallow space between electrodes to the outlet nozzle and thereby to greatly reduce the interval of time between the initial heating of electrodes and actual Vaporizing of the liquid for use and at the same time to automatically replenish the vaporized liquid from the supply within the container.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the apparatus will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electric vaporizer embodying the various features of my 40 invention, the dotted lines indicating the limit of upward movement of the plug and container relatively to the supporting frame or base.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the same -device taken in th plane of line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on a reduced scale taken in the plane of line 3 3, Figure 2.

` Figure 4 is a horizontal detail sectional view taken in the plane of line 4 4, Figure 2, the

dotted lines indicating the central circular portion of the cap or cover to which the electrodes are secured. Y

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 5 5, Figure 3 showing more particularly the slot and pin connection between the plug supporting bar and upright frame bar. v

`Figure 6 is an enlarged" detail horizontal sectional view through the electrodes taken in the plane of line 6 6, Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View similar to Figure 2 showing a modified heater unit and a slightly modified cap or cover for the container.

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of line 8 8, Figure 7.

The apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive comprises a container 1 preferably of glass or equivalent non-corrodable insulating material in the form of al cylindrical bottle having a single opening 2 in its upper end forming the mouth of the bottle which is normally closed by a cap or cover 3 the upper end of the bottle being threaded externally at 4 while the cap 3 is threaded internally for screw engagement with the externally threaded portion of the bottle.

The cap 3 is preferably moulded in a single piece from bakelite or equivalent insulating material and it is provided with a pendant marginal ange 5 in which the screw threads are formed preferably during the process of moulding, the joint between the cap and top of the bottle being rendered liquid and air tight by means of a gasket or packing 6 of rub- 85 ber or other suitable material.

' That is, the underside of the cap 3 is provided with an annular recess 7 registering with the upper marginal edge of the bottle 1 for receiving the gasket 6 and holding it 90 against accidental displacement.

The entire container including the-bottle 1 and cap 3 is preferably made of convenient size for handling, but obviously may be made of any suitable size so -long as the vertical space or chamber between the electrodes is relatively small as compared with the capacity of the container in order to expedite the conversion of the liquid into vapor.

The electric heater comprises an inner upright metal electrode 8 and an outer upright electrode 9 the inner electrode consisting in Vthis instance of a solid cylindrical rod or bar tainer -1- to the underside of the central portion of the cap -3- except that the lower end of the inner electrode terminates in a plane slightly above that of the lower end of the outer electrode -9-.

These electrodes -8- and -9- are substantially co-axial with each other and have their upper ends provided respectively with oppositely projecting flanges -11-- and -12- which abut against the underside of the adjacent portion of the cap 3 and are secured thereto by terminal screws -13 and -14- which are passed through spaced apertures in the cap and are secured thereto by nuts l5- and -16- shown more clearly in Figure 2.

The screws or bolts -l3- and 14- extend upwardly some distance above their respective clamping nuts l5 and -16- to form electric terminals -17- and -17'- for engagement with terminals -18- and -18 of an electric plug -19-.

The cap or cover -3- is provided with a vapor discharge nozzle -20- which is preferably mouldedintegral therewith to extend upwardly and outwardly therefrom and has its opening leading from the interior to the exterior of the container -1, said nozzle being located mainly at one side of the axis of the container -1- opposite the handle of the main supporting frame presently described and in a plane between the electrode terminals -17- and -17.

These terminals -17- and -17- and also vthe electrodes -8- and 9 are disposed in a plane between the inner end of the nozzle 20- and handle-side of the container, said electrodes being disposed in a plane substantially midway between the terminal bolts -13- and 14 as shown more clearly in Figure 2.

The upper end of the inner electrodes -8- is threaded and engaged by internally threaded sleeves or bushings 2l of insulating material which fit snugly within the adjacent upper end of the tubular electrode -9- to effectively hold the electrodes in uniformly spaced relation radially to form the liquid passage or chamber 10-.

The outer tubular electrode -9 is open at the bottom at -22- to form a liquid inlet connecting the chamber -10- with the interior of the container 1, said electrode 9 being provided with an outlet opening 23 in one side preferably some distance above the lower end thereof and in a plane below the lower end of the insulator sleeve or bushing -21- for connecting the chamber 10 with the interior of the container l and thereby allowing the liquid which ows in at the bottom of the tube to pass out through the outlet -23- into the interior of said container.

As previously stated, the liquid space l0- between the electrodes -8- and `-9- is relatively shallow radially as compared with the capacity of the interior of the container, the distance between the inlet -22- and outlet 23- being considerably greater than the radial interior diameter of the electrode 9- to expedite the heating and vaporizing of the liquid in transit from said inlet to the outlet when the electrodes are energized.

The upper end of the tubular electrode Elis cut away at -24 diagonally to the axis thereof to form an opening through which the supporting ange -11- for the inner electrode 8- may project'without contact with the electrode -9-, the object being to prevent short circuiting of the heater circuit across the electrodes at their junction with the insulator cap 3-.

The container -1- is adapted to be supported in and upon a base frame -25- having a plurality of, in this instance, four upwardly projecting spring arms 2G- and -26'- adapted to engage the periphery of the lower portion of the container for frictionally holding the latter thereon against lateral or accidental upward displacement.

One of the upright arms as -26'- of the supporting frame or base -25- is extended to approximately the heighth of the container and is returned outwardly and downwardly and then inwardly against the outer face of the arm to which it is electrically welded or otherwise secured to form a handle -27-.

.Aplug supporting member -28- is slidable vertically along and upon the inner face of the upper portion of the arm -26- and is also tiltable laterally to swing the plug to and from a position directly over the cap -3- and for this purpose is provided with a vertically elongated slot 29 for receiving a stud -30- on the arm -26- as shown more clearly in Figures l, 3 and 5, the inner end of the stud being enlarged to overlap upon the inner face of the adjacent portion of the slide -28- to hold the latter against accidental displacement from the arm.

vthe lower portion thereof will be interposed between the arm -26- and adjacent face of the container -1--, the intermediate portion of said slide being offset inwardly at -28' terminating in an upright extension 29- which is se-f, cured by bolts -31 or equivalent fastening means to the adjacent face of the plug -19- as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 3.

The plug -19- is composed of opposite similar half sections which are secured together face to face by the bolts -31 to hold the interposed portions 'of the terminals -18- and -18- in operative position for electrical connection with the terminals -1'7 and 17'- of the electrodes -8- and -9`- respectively when the plug is adjusted for use.

These terminals -18\- and -18'- are connected by a suitable cable -32- to another plug 33 which in turn is adapted to be secured in a socket having electrical connections with the source of electric supply, not shown.

The slot -29- in the plug supporting member -28- is of sufficient vertical length above the stud 30 to permit the plug terminals -18- and -18- to establish positive electrical connection with the terminals -16- and 16'- of the electrodes when the plug is adjusted for use as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Under these conditions, the lower end wall ofthe slot -29- will be a distance from the stud -30- slightly greater than the length of the terminals -17- and -1'7' above the clamping nuts 15- and 16 to allow said plug and its supporting member -28 to be withdrawn upwardly out of engagement with the terminals -17- and -17- and then rocked laterally about the axis of the stud -30- some distance beyond the corresponding side of the container -1 and its cover -3 to allow said container to be removed from its supporting base -25- by upward displacement beyond the upper ends of the arms -26-, see dotted lines, Figure 2.

It will be noted, however. thatl when the container is placed in operative position upon the base and the plug is operatively engaged with the terminals -17- and -17' the distanceb'etween the lower end wall ot the slot -29- and stud -.30` will be appreciably less than the distance between the base -25- and upper ends of the arm -26-, thus preventing the removal o! the container'from its supporting base by upward displacement while the plug is in enor while the electrodes 8 and -9- are energized.

It. therefore, follows that when the parts are in their normal operative position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the plug will be held against turning movement about the axis of the container by reason of its securement to its Asliding member 28- while the cover -3- will be held against turning movement by reason of the with the terminals of the plug, thus making it electrodes from the container while the plug -19- is engaged with the electrode terminals or while the electrodes are energized, the object being to prevent injury to the user by contact with the active electrodes.

`'I'hat is, the structure pointed out not only prevents the removal of the cover from the container while the plug is in operative position, but also prevents the removal of the container from the cover under the same conditions, thereby rendering the use of the apparatus entirely safe in the hands of the most careless user.

It will be observed that when the plug -19- is in engagement with the electrode terminals -17- and -17- the vapor discharge nozzle -20- and handle -27- will be disposed at di- 1 agonally opposite sides of the axis of the con- When the apparatus is in operation the energization of the electrodes -8- and 9 will cause the liquid in the shallow space ,-10 to become quickly converted into vapor which will pass out through the outlet -23- and thence through the discharge nozzle -20-.

That is, the ebulition of the liquid in the narlrow passage [ff-10- will be much more rapid than that within the remaining portion of the container so that the vapor resulting from such ebulition will find immediate erit through the outlets -23- and -20- while the liquid per se under its rapid expansion may also escape through the outlet -23- thereby assisting in raising the temperature of the remaining body of liquidwhich, it is now obvious, passes from the interior of the container -1- through the inlet -22- of the tube -9- and thence upwardly to discharge through the outlet 23- and return to the inlet so that the effect is somewhat on the principle of what is commonly known as a percolator except that during this boiling and recirculation of the liquid the vapor liberated through the outlet -23- will incidentally escape to the atmosphere through the nozzle 20-.v

In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown a modied form of cap or cover consisting of an insulator section -3'-- and a rim section -3- provided with a pendant marginal flange -5- which is threaded to engage the threaded upper end of the container -1-- for clamping the section -3- to to the top of the container.

Y The electric heater is somewhat similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, except that the inner electrode as .-8- is tubular and of slightly greater surface area than the electrode -8' so that the intervening passage or chamber 10 is proportionately of smaller capactiy,

the effect of which is to expedite the conversion 'of the liquid into vapor. gagement with the terminals -17' and -1'I'- Otherwise the description for the construction shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive also applies to lthis modification.

Operation In each of these 'modifications when the heater is energized the boiling of the liquid is confined to the relatively narrow space or chamber -10 between the electrodes -8- and -9- and between the inlet -22- and outlet -23- of the outer electrode -9.

' That is, the rise of the boiling liquid within of the overflow or outlet 23 which allows the boiling liquid to return to the interior of the container for recirculation through the chamber between the electrodes, thus reducing to a minimum the possibility of any of the liquid or foam resulting from the boiling operation passing out through the vapor discharge nozzle -20-.

Under this construction, the entire circulation of the liquid is coni-ined to the interior of electrode -9- and to the space between the bottom of the inlet -22- and overflow outlet -23 so that there is a positive separation of the liquid circulation from the vapor discharge through the nozzle 20.

In other words, the opening -23- serves as an overflow outlet for the boiling liquid and as an outlet for the passage of vapor under its buoyancy through the discharge nozzle -20- and constitutes what may be termed the separating pointl between the liquid and vapor.

It' is now obvious that the entire apparatus with the liquid to be vaporized in the container 1- may be safely transported by hand from place to place through the medium of the handle -27- and that the vaporization will continue until substantially the entire body of liquid is vaporized or recedes below the level of the bottom of the electrodes at which time the transmission of current from one electrode to Vthe` other'will automatically cease by reason of the absence of the conducting liquid between them.

Then, if it is desired to rell the container, it is necessary to first remove the plug -19- by upward displacement from the terminals -17- and -17'- until limited by the engagement of the lower end wall of the slot -29- with the stud -30- whereupon the plug 19 and its supporting arm--Z- may be rocked laterally' by reason of the engagement of the lower end' of the slot Z9- with the stud '-30- which precludes the withdrawal of the container above' the arms 2G- as longmas the plug remains in engagement with the terminals -l7-- and -17'-, which also prevents turning and removal of the cover with the electrodes thereon from the container.

What I claim is:

l.v An electric vaporizer comprising a container for the liquid to be vaporized having a removable top section provided with a vapor outlet, an electric heater secured to and extending downwardly from said cover section into the container and provided with terminals extending through and some distance above said cover section, an electric plug movable into and out of engagement with the4 terminals, a supporting frame for the container, a plug supporting member slidable vertically along and upon said frame, a distance greatery than the height `of the terminals above the cover section and having pivotal connection with said frame to permit the plug to be moved laterally beyond the periphery of the cover section when the plug is upwardly displaced from engagement with the terminals.

2. An electric vaporizer as in claim 1 in which fthe frame is provided with upwardly projecting with a container for the liquid to be vaporized,

`and a removable cover therefor having a vapor outlet, of a tubular electrode secured to the cover at one side of the vapor outlet and extended downwardly into the container, a second electrode secured to the cover and extended downwardly into` the tubular electrode coaxial therewith and in spaced relation thereto to form an intervening liquid space open at the bottom entirely around the second electrode, said tubular electrode having an opening in one side nearer to its upper end than to its lower end, and means for connecting the upper ends of the electrodes to a source of electric energy.

4. In an electric vaporizer of the character described, a container for the liquid to be vaporized having a removable cover provided with a vapor outlet, a pair of terminals of an electric heating circuit secured to said cover, a tubular electrode secured to one of said terminals to extend downwardly therefrom into the container and having a p ortionv of its upper end cultI away, a second electrode having its upper end projecting through said cut away portion of the tubular electrode and secured `to the other terminal to extend downwardly therefrom within and coaxial therewith and in spaced relation thereto to form an intervening chamber, and means for connecting said terminals to a source of electric energy.

- MAX KATZMAN. 

